The chip that powers almost all netbooks today is called the Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz).  And boy is it getting boooo-ring.  This chip is tired and used.  Consumers demand an upgrade!  A new, more powerful and efficient Atom chip is on the way say Intel, and its code-named “Pine-Trail M.”  It will be released in the first quarter of 2010.  Ever since netbooks became oh-so popular not too long ago, companies like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and creator of the original Eee PC Asustek have been pumping out new netbook devices like it’s their job (wait, it istheir job!).  Anyway, the market has quickly become saturated with way too many clone netbooks (both in exterior looks and interior parts; re: the Atom N270).  As of late, it has been confusing to distinguish different netbooks from each other, especially when their names are differentiated only by a single letter or number.  According to industry sources, in a surprise statement Acer and ASUS have called for a freeze on netbook production for 2009; they plan on launching new netbooks in early 2010 when the Intel Pine-Trail chips are ready for use.  In the meantime, the companies will instead focus on their thin-and-light (or ultra-thin) laptops that run on Intel’s CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) processors for the remainder of this year.  I am very much looking forward to future netbooks that contain Intel’s smaller batttery saving processor (Pine-Trail) and nVidia’s ION platform which allows for better graphics and 1080p HD support.

[Via Digitimes; Engadget]